WANSTEAD: Man arrested in smuggling investigation

9:18am Friday 21st November 2008

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A MAN from Wanstead is among ten people who have been arrested by police as part of an investigation into a multi-million pound alcohol smuggling ring.

The 33-year-old, who has not been named, was taken into custody yesterday morning.

In all, an undisclosed number of properties across London, Essex and Dorset were raided by police and officials from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) as part of the investigation.

Some of those arrested are also suspected of money-laundering.

The alleged fraud is said to involve alcohol products being diverted for sale on the UK market, avoiding excise duty.

A spokesman for the HMRC said "large quantities" of alcohol and £100,000 cash was seized in the raids.

The money was found in a property in Bournemouth.

Steve Baker, HMRC assistant director of criminal investigation, said: "Organised criminals are attacking the tax system, with the aim of stealing huge amounts of revenue.

"This operation is part of a large scale, criminal investigation into a fraud that may have cost the country up to £50 million per year.

"We are committed to tackling excise fraud and to showing the criminals behind it that there are no safe havens.

"We will pursue them, and the money they steal, wherever they operate in the world."